Of the many architectural Barcelona attractions to see during your stay in Spain, Antoni Gaudi’s Casa Mila apartment building is another of the artist’s strange creations that shouldn’t be missed. The Casa Mila, more commonly known as La Pedrera (the “stone quarry”), was completed in 1911 and received a less than enthusiastic response. The rippled stone façade, said to have been inspired by the mountain of Montserrat, curves around the street corner, while the cave-like balconies seem to flow into one another. The wrought-iron balconies were individually designed and crafted by Gaudi's frequent collaborator, Josep Maria Jujol. The Casa Mila was Gaudi’s last secular commission, and his last work before devoting himself to his masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia church, which, along with the Park Guell, round out the three main Gaudi attractions in Barcelona.
The Casa Mila Barcelona Spain is one of the craziest architectural products to come out of the crazy (and brilliant) head of Antoni Gaudi. The Casa Mila is hard to define: some say it resembles the honeycombed structure of a beehive; some say it resembles, in texture and design, a porous sand castle nearing collapse; some say it looks like the perfect dwelling for an urban Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
Whatever Gaudi’s inspiration and intent, the world community recognized the Casa Mila’s pioneering design, and the sculpted apartment building became one of 812 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Sites in 1984. Today the Casa Mila is one of a handful of must see Barcelona attractions. La Pedrera is still divided into private apartments, but visitors can visit the strange rooftop “chimney park”, which is especially beautiful with the late afternoon sun slanting over the city. The roof also features an imitation of the bench from Guell Park, as well as an exhibition of the late artist’s life. The Casa Mila is located in the L'Eixample District at Passeig de Gracia 92. Guided tours cost 500 pesetas, and are offered weekdays at 6 pm and weekends at 11am.
